As if expecting this, Michael retorts with a, "I find that very hard to believe, Governor, that you would sacrifice pushing through a transportation bill, a crime bill, and a jobs bill, just to push through environmental legislation."
"We still have two more years," I respond back.
"You plan to work on those initiatives, next? Really?" Michael asks, voicing incredulity.
"Yes," I answer back. I’m only going to answer questions here. When he gives me a chance to make my case, that’s when I’m going to verbally rip his goddamn throat out.
"And that once you passed the environmental bill, you started attending fundraisers hosted by China First Bank; can you explain that as well?" Michael asks and I’m silent. I only went to it because I had to. I hate raising money. But it's a necessary evil. "Can you explain why up until passage of your environmental legislation you were never invited to a China First Bank fundraiser, but all of a sudden afterwards you found you had the time."
Dammit. This isn’t going to look good when I tell him the truth. "I was busy being Governor before, but once that priority was taken care of, I began to think about the next four years and the kind of fundraising I’d have to do."
"But you didn’t think of that before?" Michael asks. "You didn’t once ask for or receive an invitation to go to an event sponsored by China First Bank? You never thought to yourself that if you started fundraising as you call it, earlier, you’d have to raise less each day? All of a sudden these doors began to open up only once you passed the environmental bill, is that your story?
I know what Michael Anders is trying to do here. I can see his strategy. He’s a snake.
Everyone knows the billionaire mayor of New York City is looking to move up to becoming Governor one day. Everyone knows he’s got his eyes set on a prize even bigger than that.
It all falls into place now. He’s trying to clear the way.
Well, then he’s got another thing coming. It’s time to take my case directly to the people.
"Governor Carter?" Michael asks, eyeing me with an evil smile. "Did you have an answer?"
I take a sigh. This isn’t how I wanted to end up describing my actions. But you don’t always get a chance to pick and choose the time and place of the battle.
"I think you’re a bit confused as to the nature of the environmental bill if you’re asking me that question," I say bluntly. "And I think it displays a curious lack of awareness in government for you to ask me that."
There are some muted whispers that go through the room. I’ve just stood up to my interrogator. But I don’t stop. I need to keep going.
"Imagine if you will turn on the water at your kitchen sink, and seeing thick brown sludge come out," I speak into the microphone. I can see several of the photographers turn white at the thought. "Imagine getting tumors from eating tainted beef. Having your lifespan shortened by twenty years because you inhaled too much methane. That’s all we attempted to stop."
"Is that so. In that case can you…" Michael Anders tries to continue but I stop him. Hard.
"Yes that is so, Mr. Mayor," I say sharply, raising some eyebrows. "And if you stopped once to look at the people who live in this state—aside from the other wealthy Manhattanites you surround yourself with—you’d see that New Yorkers are getting sicker at a much higher rate than the rest of the nation. They’re also dying at a younger age."
"Are you trying to say I don't know the…" Michael is about to start again but I cut him off.
"I’m trying to say, Mayor," I say with a damn sneer. "That you don’t care about anyone other than yourself. You could care less about me, the environment, or even the jobs you think my bill is going to kill."
"You’re out of line, Governor!" Michael shouts. "And as someone who is standing here testifying in the hopes of avoiding a corruption and bribery scandal, you’re not doing yourself a bit of good."
I think back to the Mayor and everything surrounding him. How he only came out as gay six months ago, right before the New York City mayoral election. This man fooled a city of 8 million. It’s time for someone to show the world who he really is.
"You want to know what I think?" Michael asks me aggressively. I don't get a chance to answer. But I bet you he’s going to tell me anyways. "I think you had a secret quid pro quo deal with the Chinese, Governor. Maybe not a deal—that implies intelligence. But they tugged at your heartstrings. Poor environment. Save the owl. Or something like that."
Jesus Christ. I’m sitting there, silent as he continues. "And then once you did what they told you to like a good little boy, they decided to start rewarding you." There is angry grumbling all around me. People can’t believe this garbage, can they?
"But, unfortunately Governor Andrews, this time you got your hand caught in the cookie jar. And now it's time to pay," Michael declares.
I got to admit. This man has played me very admirably. This is going to be a lot more of a knife-fight than I realized.
That’s when I hear a voice behind me at the back of the chambers near the door.
"Mr. Mayor, if you’re going to start accusing Governor Andrews of things, you better say it to my face too," Liam says, as people begin to whisper and low murmurs start rippling through the hall. "That way I can see that smug look of yours on it before I bash it in with my fucking fists."
Yeah. This wasn’t how I had intended for today to go down, either.
Liam